KINORHYNCHA

While species of kinorhynchs was only discovered in 1841, fossil records indicate that the phylum is over 535 million years old

ANATOMY

• 13 segmented body
• No cilia, instead strong spines and bristles line the body
• Males and females are externally indistinguishable
• No circulatory system

Untitled Slide

REPRODUCTION

• A male places a 'bag' of sperm inside female
• Female places fertilized egg sac to sand grains
• In about 10 days the young hatch

Kinorhynchs cannot swim. Movement occurs by the contraction of muscles on the top and bottom of the body, which causes the spines to push into the ground and push the worm forward.

Kinorhynchs mainly feed on diatoms, a common phytoplankton. Using their bristles to pull the diatom into their mouth.

Kinorhynchs have been found in all the worlds oceans from costal depths to up to 5,000 meters

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• http://eol.org/pages/1526/overview
• http://english.nigpas.cas.cn/rh/rp/201511/t20151127_156577.html
• http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Kinorhyncha/